Manuka and Donagh Meyler (blue and white) pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
After finishing second with Duke Cass earlier on the card, Donagh Meyler and Karl Thornton went one place better with Manuka in the Sean Rothwell Construction Handicap Hurdle.
Successful in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel, and a handicap on the level last winter, the seven-year-old son of Galileo was stepping up in trip to three miles for the first time today.
Available at 8/1 last night, the seven-year-old chestnut opened on-course at 7's before going off a 6/1 chance in the colours of owner David O'Rourke.
Settled in mid-division, he took closer order from five out, and gained a narrow lead after the third last.
He was ridden after the next, and kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by four and a half lengths. Irish Bulletin ran his best race for a while, finishing second at 20/1 under Barry Geraghty for Eric McNamara, while Night Generation (8/1) was half a length back in third under Bryan Cooper for Noel Meade. Clontarf was sent off the 3/1 favourite (from 6's last night and from 4's on-course), and he finished fifth under Keith Donoghue for Dermot McLoughlin.
